Culture

Flight Of The Conchords Climb the Charts

by Jarrett Martineau | April 30, 2008 at 02:35 pm

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UPDATE | April 30 - Conchords Climb the Charts

And just like that, the Conchord kids have become an American sensation — though it is strange to see that chart-topping albums barely sell 50,000 copies.

A pair of New Zealand comedians who play struggling musicians on a cult hit television show officially graduated to stardom on Wednesday when their debut album opened at No. 3 on the U.S. pop chart.

The self-titled album from Flight of the Conchords, who have their own show on cable channel HBO, sold 52,000 copies in the week ended April 27, according to tracking firm Nielsen SoundScan.

In the process, they outsold pop idol Ashlee Simpson, whose new album opened at No. 4 with 47,000 copies. "Bittersweet World" marks her first release that did not go to No. 1.

PREVIOUSLY | Conchords Cause L.A. Fan Frenzy - Don't get me wrong, I think the Conchords guys are hilarious, but a screaming fan frenzy?

If this is the kind of reception Hollywood is giving them, then it looks like the New Zealand duo is about to blow-up stateside.

Flight Of The Conchords caused a Beatles-like frenzy in Los Angeles yesterday (April 24), where they performed for a packed house at Amoeba Records.

Hundreds of screaming fans had to be turned away because the New Zealand musical comedy duo brought out a massive crowd that reportedly rivalled that of former Beatle Paul McCartney, who performed at the same venue last year.

The pair played a handful of tracks from their new self-titled album, which was released in the US earlier this week and has already won a Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album.